The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-12-22

Perhaps he was intrusted with the con-
veying Of suggestions to people in the ma-.
terial world. If so, he did not reflect upon
it, for he never thought Of himself, at
least Of the uses he performed, as ap-
pertaining to himself. fhe had speculated
upon what heaven might be Ike-he
never had-he could not have imagined an
existence more perfect in delight than his
genial and ceaseless occupation made for
him.
he had been too busy to give q thought
to that last earthly experience of his, un-
til now, right in the heyday Of his joyous
activities, he was suddenly oyertaken by
an unaccountable stupor. cannot say
he lost himself. He had learned that
nothing can be lost. But he seemed in
spired In his work by the restraints OF
some clogging environment and his forces
called q halt.
Meanwhile, In those very old times,
though the human race was, as now,
steadily: advancing in enlightenment, no
body dreamed Of the wonderful scripture
that was writing itself along the centuries
in the worlds history. But the era had
now come when this majestic truth stood
forth revealed, and everything Of science
was brought to bear in its interpretations.
Men studied the earth's strata, and
mania prevailed for bringing out into
modern sunlight the stone relics Of past
civilizations. And SO it came about that
on recent day party Of eager scientists
deciphered the unique inscription that re-
corded Ono's experimental interment. a
record that proclaimed itself to have stood
for more thirty centuries! But what.
what was this2 The saYants-they were
all men Of large brains, and every indi-
.yidual was quite an adept in analytical
interpretations adjusted their glasses
and compared their readings anew. They
agreed. Here stood q promise, so they
unanimously deciphered 1t, uttered in no
ambiguous terms-the transcriber had
been in earnest-a bold, straightforward
guarantee that when tho time was ripe
the body inclosed within should be vital
lied anew.
The wise men looked at each other and
smiled, perhaps derisively. "But grains
have retained their vitality in Egyptian
mummy cases for thousands of years."
some one remarked All the rest said
"Fshawp' But that was all. After a mo-
ment they grew grayer. Whatever subtle
influence had taken hold Of them they
themselves could not have told. Presently
they stood with bated breath and spoke
low to each other. They must explore
this thing.
It would take long to detail how, step
by step, these scholars, with reyerent
touch and tender, patient skill, not per-
mitting the Intervention Of any hireling
hand, removed this firm hermetic cover
ing. There prevailed misty-prescience,
it might have; been-no one spoke Of it
and yet in varying degrees it was partici-
pated in by all-that, as they worked,
seemed to hold their hands and fill their
souls with sense of awed expectancy.
And now at length the casket was un-
locked and its treasure lay revealed-sim-
plya sleeping boy. Surely not specta-
Gle from which those learned men need
shrink The pure, calm face suggested
new creation awaiting the breath Of life
rather than legacy from the far pastl
And yet-it was an instinct they would
not have analyzed- these wise, deep think
ing sages barred their head and circled
round little way apart. Too near prox-
unity might disturb the sanctity Of that
repose. To touch it by breath were
desecration.
But never was center, of interest gazed
at with such concentrated, strained at
tention. Did they count the seconds it
would take for contact with the outer air
to crumble this fair outline into dust7
They had no thought, no theory, no power
but to gaze on. They might have stood
there thus, spenbound, for minutes or for
hours. They never knew. What occult
power was this which had laid its hold
upon the very volition Of those investi-
gators impelling that combined intensity
Of observation? AS they all afterward
described 1t, there seemed to grow into
their minds sense Of kinship with this
revelation as they looked, and they were
conscious of an involuntary reaching
forth, as it were, of their matured vitality
responsive to something knocking at
their hearts.
No eye could free itself from that en-
thrallment. Lo, and as they looked did
they dream? Surely there was movement.
The pulses were astirl Light dawned,
fickered, hovered in f1tful CLEANS upon
the passive face! 1t was there, preserved
through all the centuries, that mystery
which psychologists define as the principle
Of reccptivity of life. It was q human
will which had paralyzed its action. The
magnetism Of that encircling human pres
ence had revivifed it. Why, their hearts
were warming to an actual boylsh person
ahty. Frightening it was, too, mirroring
ever more and more distinctly on infnity
Of human traits, Ono's individuality.
And behold, even while they looked, there
in their midst he stood, clothed in the
garment he had SO long ago put off. A
boy? No; they saw him of ''the stature
of man; that is, of an angel" all aglow
with an enlightenment, oh, so inmeasur-
ably beyond them.
And yet, blessed he this truth, they
said, not beyond human possibilities; no,
and not shining afar off. So near, indeed,
he was, they ceased to note the outward
look. With each one he was at home,
even within the inmost chambers of his
soul. No subterfuges, no disguises here.
Only, however, that which was best in
them was summoned to the foreground.
All selfish ambition, jealousy, meanness,
greed, spite, every characteristic which in
their better moments they abhMed, was